Across Mexico the spiritual celebration of Christmas for Roman Catholics culminates on the night of December 24 with the Misa de Gallo (Rooster’s Mass) commemorating the Messiah’s birth.
Services at local parishes are scheduled for 8 p.m. in Ajijic, 9 p.m. in Chapala, San Antonio and Jocotepec, 10 p.m. in San Juan Cosala and similar time frames in other lakeshore communities.
After attending the religious ritual, families head home to enjoy festivities that customarily include diving into a late night Christmas feast, opening gifts, breaking piñatas and partying together until the wee hours.